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The Boring Talks podcast

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The Boring Talks

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  BBC Radio  

Behind every boring subject is another layer of boringness you could have never imagined. Presenter: James Ward Updated: Weekly

Behind every boring subject is another layer of boringness you could have never imagined. Presenter: James Ward Updated: Weekly

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#56

#55 -Farts

The colorectal surgeon and comedian Jenan Younis wants to get to the bottom of a taboo subject, that everyone has struggled with at some stage. Farts. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

28 Apr 2021

15 MINS

15:25

28 Apr 2021

#55

#54 - Jigsaws

It started with a 'Regency Wedding Scene' puzzle purchased for £2 in a charity shop. Now Anya Driscoll is a jigsaw junkie. In this edition of The Boring Talks she discussions her obsession, and pieces together the history of jigsaws, the art of jigsaws and whether or not they could save your life (spoiler – they can't really). James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting... maybe. ... Read more

06 Jul 2020

21 MINS

21:06

06 Jul 2020

#54

#53 - Car Boots

From Anglo-American differences, to escaping kidnappers and celebrating the classic car boot sale. In this Boring Talk, Auto Express journalist Hugo Griffiths climbs inside the 'space of temporariness' that is the car boot. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

01 Jun 2020

18 MINS

18:26

01 Jun 2020

#53

#52 - Breakfast Cereals

Family holidays for the artist Louise Ashcroft meant one thing - variety pack cereals. Would it be Cornflakes? Or Frosties? Coco Pops or Ricicles? Through this multi-grain multiple choice Louise realised she could be anyone..... kind of. Join her for a creative, personal journey through her favourite corn syrup-infused inflated grain. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

04 May 2020

22 MINS

22:27

04 May 2020

#52

#51 - Oboe Reeds

Gouging, scraping and chopping. The reporter Chloe Veltman shows us the painstaking art of making an oboe reed, and how it can be the difference between sounding like a singing nightingale, or a belligerent duck. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

20 Apr 2020

18 MINS

18:02

20 Apr 2020

#51

#50 - Windows

Where does the word 'Window' derive from? And what does it have to do with a Norwegian architectural historian and a bohemian Austrian poet? On a lyrical journey from death to inspiration, Anne Ulrikke Andersen takes a look through the windows in the life of Christian Norberg-Schulz. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

06 Apr 2020

20 MINS

20:29

06 Apr 2020

#50

#49 - Coal Holes

They are either 12, 14 or 16 inches wide, they live just outside our doors, and they come in a variety of striking designs. So why has no one heard of coal holes? Local historian Amir Dotan explores the streets of London to find the small metal discs you may not have noticed before, but may well have stepped over thousands of times. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

30 Mar 2020

22 MINS

22:09

30 Mar 2020

#49

#48 - Data Centres

What do we all use, but never visit? The sound artist Matt Parker takes us inside the bizarre world of remote Data Centres, where our wireless world is powered by rows and rows of computers running all day, everyday. But what is the true cost of these centres to our planet? What do they sound like? And why does one have an empty white room with an executive leather armchair and a faceless portrait hanging on the wall? James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

23 Mar 2020

25 MINS

25:35

23 Mar 2020

#48

#47 - Crinoline Ladies

It began as an image of Victorian femininity, became a 1920s style icon, and perhaps ended as a 1970s toilet roll cover. Dr Kathryn Ferry looks at the curious history of the Crinoline Lady, exploring the growth of suburbia, Gone With The Wind and 'crinolinemania'. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

16 Mar 2020

16 MINS

16:35

16 Mar 2020

#47

# 46 - Teletext

James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. From Bamboozle, to being switched off, and now being salvaged for the digital age. James O'Malley looks at the life, death and resurrection of Teletext. ... Read more

09 Mar 2020

17 MINS

17:26

09 Mar 2020

#46

#45 - Box Certificates

One day while breaking down a box in a corridor, Joyce Smith noticed a box certificate. Quickly followed by a second one. Now Joyce had 2 of them, and 2 of anything is the start of a collection. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

02 Mar 2020

19 MINS

19:27

02 Mar 2020

#45

# 44 - Swearing: a personal cross-cultural comparative study of Hindi and English

If you hit your thumb with a hammer, what swear word would you immediately scream? Charvy Narain asked her friends and family this question, which lead to a personal journey from the 'buffalo's eye' to New York City cops and the her surprising Mausi. In this edition of The Boring Talks Charvy Narain takes a very foul mouthed and personal look at swearing in Hindi and English. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. ... Read more

24 Feb 2020

14 MINS

14:05

24 Feb 2020

#44

# 43 - The Sounds of Computer Games Loading

James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. The clunk and click of the datasette machine. The white noise of the tape loading. The strange and compelling soundtrack of the loading music. The author and video games journalist Keith Stuart remembers the forgotten whirrs and clicks that made up the soundtrack of his youth. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Keith Stuart Producer: Luke Doran ... Read more

17 Feb 2020

14 MINS

14:13

17 Feb 2020

#43

#42 - The Lexicon Of Breakups

James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. In 2011, comedian Rosie Wilby was dumped by email. (Though she did feel better about it after correcting her ex’s spelling and punctuation). Obsessing ever since about whether technology has enabled abrupt endings to relationships, she discovered an entire new language. But what are ghosting, breadcrumbing, submarining, pocketing, benching and curving? Rosie Wilby is a comedian and presents The Breakup Monologues podcast. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Rosie Wilby Producer: Luke Doran ... Read more

10 Feb 2020

15 MINS

15:53

10 Feb 2020

#42

#41 - Pencils

James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. Brian Mackenwells is passionate about pencils. In this Boring Talk he shares his passion for good pencils. He talks us through their history, and explains why having a good pencil gives you a pleasurable 'small pivot point that can change your whole mind set'. He also talks us through his favourite pencils, and shares the very personal reason that he can't part with one particular pencil in his collection. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Brian Mackenwells Producer: Luke Doran ... Read more

10 Feb 2020

27 MINS

27:44

10 Feb 2020

#41

#40 - Thank You (again)

James Ward says thank you for listening to series two and chooses the best numbers from each of the talks. Presenter: James Ward Producer: Luke Doran ... Read more

27 Feb 2019

01 MINS

01:57

27 Feb 2019